Biographical Sketch of

Henry K. Priest

Transcribed by Suzanne Folk for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 378 - 379

HENRY K. PRIEST, the popular landlord of the American House, the leading hotel of Princeton, 
has been engaged in the same line of business for almost fifteen years and his long experience,
together with his natural adaptability has made him a general favorite with the traveling 
public. Mr. Priest was born in Menasha, Winnebago County, Wis., on the 19th day of May, 1850, 
and is consequently numbered among the early settlers of the State. His birth occurred in an 
old log cabin, such as furnished homes for most of the pioneers, and his early life was passed 
amid the wild scenes and undeveloped surroundings of the frontier. His parents were Daniel and 
Ann Frances (Barker) Priest, the former a native of Massachusetts, born of Scotch parentage, 
while the latter was a native of Leeds, England.

Daniel Priest was a manufacturer of woolen goods and in the State of Ohio, where he removed at
an early day, he did an extensive business in that line. After carrying on operations in the 
Buckeye State for a number of years, he then came to Wisconsin, locating in Menasha, in 1847. 
He there resumed his old occupation and met with splendid success in his undertaking. The year 
1870, however, witnessed his removal to Henrietta, Wis., where in connection with his labors 
as a manufacturer he devoted himself to farming, making his home in that community until his 
death, which occurred in 1885. Only two or three months previous his loved wife had been 
called home, and they who had so long traveled life's journey together were laid side by side 
in the city of the dead. A family of eight children were born unto them, four sons and four 
daughters: Martha and William, the two eldest, are now deceased. They were followed by Henry 
K., Lucretia, Emily, Edward C., Dolly and Benjamin. The last two are twins, but the sister is 
not now living.

Having passed his entire life in this State, Henry K. Priest, our subject, ahs witnessed the 
greater part of its growth and development and has shared in the hardships and difficulties of
the early settlers. He was educated in the common schools of Menasha, and was reared under 
the parental roof until seventeen years of age, when he left home to earn his own livelihood, 
securing a position with the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company. During that time he was 
engaged in dredging, and by his faithful discharge of duty won the confidence and respect of 
his employers. The succeeding three years of his life were spent in the government employ, 
after which he turned his attention to the business with which he is still connected. He 
embarked as a hotel keeper in Appleton, Wis., where he remained for one year, when in 1876, 
he purchased a hotel in Eureka, of which he was proprietor for nine years. Prosperity attended 
his efforts during that period and he purchased a half interest in the steamer "Weston" and 
barge, which for three or four years had been making trips on the Fox River. He afterward 
built the steamer, "C.S. Morris," which was engaged in transportation between Portage, Oshkosh 
and Green Bay. When almost a decade had passed he sold his property in Eureka, immediately 
afterward purchasing a hotel in Berlin, but there misfortune overtook him. Only nine months 
had been passed in the latter place when his hotel was burned down. This caused his removal 
to Princeton, where he also met with a similar accident. With characteristic energy, he at 
once replaced the hotel in Princeton by a larger and more commodious brick structure in which 
he now carries on operations.

In 1875, Mr. Priest was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah A. (Johnson) Holliday, widow of 
Nathan Holliday, by whom she had three children George, Belle and Mamie. The death of Mr. 
Holliday occurred in 1872. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Priest, but their first 
born, Lucy, is now deceased. Sadie, the younger, is yet with her parents.

In political sentiment, our subject is a Republican, having advocated the principles of that 
party since attaining his majority, and socially is a member of Princeton Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F. 
The American House is fitted up with all the appointments of a first-class hotel, and its 
genial host and amiable hostess have the happy faculty of making their guests feel at ease, 
at the same time providing them with all the comforts and conveniences possible. The family 
holds a high social position and is well known throughout the community.






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